Family Files Submitted By
Becky Coger Roberts
Pilotsmom@classicnet.net

Huntsville Paper: August 27, 1936

                                    Steve Coger's Death is Loss to County's Citizenry

            Steve Coger, one of the best known citizens of the Huntsville community, died about 12 o'clock Tuesday night at his home just north of town. Funeral services were conducted at the home by Rev. Jake Drake at 2 o'clock Wednesday afternoon and interment was made in the Huntsville Cemetery. The arrangements were in charge of Bruce Brashears, local undertaker.  One of the largest funeral processions ever seen in this city attested the high esteem in which the deceased was held.

        Active pallbearers were Clay McBroom, Floyd Outland, Grover Harris, Hugh Murphy, J.C. Baber and Virgil Weathers; honary, D.W. Anderson, E.M. Fowler, E.E. Polk, Alfred Hawn, O.W. Basham, Earl Stroud, Sam Fritts, Tom Hargis, P.B. Reed, Claude A. Fuller, R.R. Thompson, A.H. Berry, Dick Simpson, C.F. Ficth, Henry Holland, J.N. Phillips and J.S. Combs.

            George Stephen Coger (familiarly known as Steve Coger) was born May 19, 1868. at Lawrence, Kansas; he came to Huntsville, Arkansas, with his parents when he was about six years of age and had since resided on the old homestead which he owned many years; he was first married to Ora E. Phillips who passed away Dec. 19, 1900: he was married to Etta H. Howell, Jan. 8, 1902, and is survived by her and four sons, Ona F. (of the first marriage) of Booneville, Ark.; Gayle of Fresno, Calif., Kenneth of Little Rock, Ark., and Charles H. of Daniel, Wyo., also by one sister and two brothers, Mrs. Addie Lear and Clay Coger of Berryville, Ark., and L.A. Coger of Spring Valley, Ark., All were present at the funeral except one son, Charles, who is expected to arrive here tomorrow.

          Mr. Coger spent his life as a farmer and was well recognized for his industry and thrift. He followed progressive methods and was not long in establishing himself as an example of what can be accomplished with properly applied efforts. He not only studied farming but he was always identified in the civic and political  activities of the community and county. He was a life-long democrat and for many years served as chairman of the Madison County Democratic central committee. His popularity in the county organization of his party was very signally manifested when he was  unanimously re-elected as chairman of the central committee at the meeting since the recent primary election. When information of this last action of honor bestowed upon him was conveyed to him during his illness, he very touchingly expressed his appreciation of the continued confidence of his friends.

           Truly it can be said that Steve Coger's death is a distinct loss to Madison county's citizenry.